Janus
The Fence network of playwrights and cultural operators was set up in October 2003 under the auspices of writernet’s Creative Renewal’s programme which through EU EQUAL funding – and with support from the British Council - paid for the project’s launch and incubation in the West Midlands of England (October 03), and its second third and fourth meetings in Budapest (March 04) Graz (November 04) and Belgrade (March 05). The purpose of The Fence is to create a relationship-focused network of playwrights and cultural operators who focus on the twin themes of the mobility of the individual artist (playwright) and cultural diversities. Activity can be generated from anywhere within the network.
A partnership of 5 organisations from the network of Fence participants came together to develop a one year project entitled Janus (June 05-May06).
uniT Verein für Kultur an der Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Austria
The Finnish Theatre Information Centre, Finland
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, UK
writernet, UK
Theater Instituut Nederlan
Janus is using the Fence network to identify 15 plays from different countries across Europe that engage with the theme of Cultural Identity: cultural diversity. These will then be translated into English, German on Finnish and given showcased readings as part of Festivals in Tampere, Finland (August 05); Graz, Austria (March 06) and Leeds, UK (May 06). Once the plays have been translated, each playwright will go to the host country for a week before the Festival to work with a playwright/dramaturg so as to explore the context of the play in translation as well as the actual text itself. All plays will be published and disseminated. Plays will be selected in collaboration with the festival host country who will undertake to pursue opportunities for potential production.
With support from Culture 2000 Janus was launched as part of the Festival in Tampere, Finland (August 05). For more information please go to Tampereand see The Fence section of this site